Fabio Monti, in the online edition of Corriere della Sera, has analysed the difficulties of Inter and identified some important dates.
These according to the journalist are the main points of the collapse of Inter:
1) The fracture with the fans: May 10 2014
“Inter play Lazio in what is effectively a Europa League qualifier at the San Siro, it is also Zanetti’s farewell. Mazzarri names Zanetti on the bench to the chorus of whistles from the fans. This is the time of the break between the coach and the fans. This break becomes ever deeper creating an untenable situation although Inter decide to renew Mazzarri’s contract.”
2) Vidic and the defence: August 31 2014
“Inter debut in the league with a 0-0 draw away at Torino. A draw that immediately shows the shortcomings of the team. A game with few Inter chances created and with Handanovic saving a penalty given away by Vidic. The Serb is also sent off for applauding the referee. The former Manchester United player should be the leader of the defence but soon proves he has big problems adapting to Italian football. In general the defence creaks.”
3) The collapse against Cagliari: September 28 2014
“Inter are back with 3 good results, 7-0 vs Sassuolo, 1-1 in Palermo and a 2-0 win against Atalanta. Zeman’s Cagliari triumph 4-1 at the San Siro thanks to a hat-trick from Ekdal. You see all the faults of the team in one swoop: a team that doesn’t run, a midfield that doesn’t fight, a defence without protection and exposed to many counter attacks. The San Siro whistles. Seven days later on October 5, Inter are overwhelmed by Fiorentina 3-0. For the first time Inter raise the question of the change of coach. This solution is frozen for the entire month of October coinciding with a draw against Napoli and two wins by a penalty against Cesena and Sampdoria.”
4) Here comes Mancini: November 14 2014
“Inter collapses in Parma 2-0 November 1 then on November 9 draw 2-2 at home to Hellas Verona. The fans are in revolt against the players but especially against Mazzarri. After 5 days of reflection, Thohir gives the orders for his men to change and focus on coach Mancini for what he won at Inter and not just for his charisma. Mancini surprisingly accepts the job despite the obvious structural difficulties of the team.”
5) Over-optimism: November 23 2014
“Mancini can’t resist the charm of a return to Inter saying this on his presentation. “I never thought I would be here because you should never go back to where you did well. I’m a happy man.” This leads Mancini to believe that the task of reviving Inter is easier than expected. He speaks with conviction about reaching 3rd place but asks the team to give more than a 100%. Inter draw the Milan derby and suffer defeat against Roma, despite playing well in parts. This gives the illusion of a team in the process of awakening, however defeat against Udinese at home on December 7 shows that the problems to be solved are huge. After a good first half, Inter stops playing completely and concedes 2 goals to lose 2-1.”
6) Lack of luck: January 25 2015
“Inter start the year well with a draw at Juventus, a comeback victory against Genoa and a 0-0 draw at Empoli on a difficult pitch. Then arrive Podolski (Arsenal), Shaqiri (Bayern) and Brozovic (Dinamo Zagreb) but the match against Torino highlights another feature of Inter, the lack of luck. Torino’s winner comes 50 seconds from the full time whistle with Inter’s defence switching off at a corner. Inter make outrageous mistakes in defence again against Sassuolo in a 1-3 loss. Then again in Naples where Inter are eliminated from the Coppa Italia after another late lapse in concentration.”
7) Terrible month: March 1 2015
“Inter look to have changed after 3 consecutive wins (which never happened with Mazzarri) against Palermo, Atalanta and Cagliari. But everything goes wrong. Inter lose to Fiorentina undeservedly then comeback from 2 goals down for a 2-2 draw at Napoli. Next is a 1-1 draw with Cesena and a double defeat and elimination from the Europa League by Wolfsburg. Then another undeserved defeat against Sampdoria. Despite Icardi’s goals the team struggle to score and make scoring opportunities. Add to that the fragile defence.”
Source: fcinter1908.it
Oh really… So before May 10, 2014, we were flying high? Good to know, I didn’t realize that.
No. Inter’s problems started the day Mourinho decided to leave. We panic bought Rafa, we didn’t sell our aging stars like Maicon and Milito when their prices were at their peaks. Then FFP came along and Moratti stopped being able to buy the best players, and the club was forced to start buying mediocre players. So yeah, Inter’s problems started about 4 years before this article claims.
Oh really… So before May 10, 2014, we were flying high? Good to know, I didn’t realize that.
No. Inter’s problems started the day Mourinho decided to leave. We panic bought Rafa, we didn’t sell our aging stars like Maicon and Milito when their prices were at their peaks. Then FFP came along and Moratti stopped being able to buy the best players, and the club was forced to start buying mediocre players. So yeah, Inter’s problems started about 4 years before this article claims.
To me, the collapse started when Inter decided to take in Vidic and give up Rolando, a very important CB in Mazzari’s system, to make room for Vidic Rano and JJ.
I think the biggest difference this season compared to the last is that we don’t have any players that makes the difference, last season we had Alvarez the first half and then Palacios, but now no one have step up for more than a few games and carried the team. If you compare with teams i the top of the table or even Milan (Menez) they have player that score goals and create chances on there own which in return gives them points were Inter instead have lost points.
I think Inter’s main problem started with releasing all of leaders and legends, especially in defense and defensive midfield. J.Zanetti, Cambiasso, Samuel, Maicon, Lucio, Chivu all left Inter almost simultaneously. It would be better to keep at least 2 of those 6. For example, playing Ranocchia alongside Samuel will be far more better and comfortable. Team should not change their starting 4 defenders in a single season. In addition, Cambiasso/J.Zanetti could be a great example for new comer midfielders such as Medel, Brozovic, Hernanes and even Guarin. Now, we have only one player who spent 4 seasons with Inter. He is Ranocchia and that’s why Inter management chose him as a captain. Other players should admit and respect him and support their captain. Winning mentality starts with this. Otherwise, dressing room atmosphere will always be cold and players cannot play as a team. Key to Inter’s revolution is discipline and change in mentality.
In my opinion, the decision to sell the legends is right. In the other hand, I will say it is too late to make regeneration. The ideal regeneration is put the successor among the legend, just like what Liverpool did with Steven Gerard and Jordan Henderson. Inter seems did not think about it, and choose to rely on the legend.
Don’t get me wrong, the legend is so popular among interisti. In my opinion, the legend has been used by Moratti to cover up the economic problem in Inter. It keep Moratti popular among interisti, and we seems cannot criticize the legend. Even though they getting slow and play badly sometimes.
I believe in this current path, we will rise again after structural adjustment. And we should notice that it is not an instant process. I believe the new circle will start from next season with potential massive departure.
Your view on legends and Moratti is not new to me. I saw this type of view every day in Inter forums since 2009. regeneration should be gradual if there is a record of winning titles every year in my opinion. The point FC Inter Milan made was that we shouldn’t let all the experienced defensing players leave at one time, which I totally agree. We have suffered from bad defense since new season. Bad defense means bad match outcomes and instability of the whole project.
The logic of your last paragraph is new to me, though. Now we dont have any legends and with massive departure we are only re-regenerating, I cannot be that so optimistic with such a “new circle”. And I cannot see how come this new circle is financially more sustainable than Morrati’s age.
Your view on legends and Moratti is not new to me. I saw this type of view every day in Inter forums since 2009. regeneration should be gradual if there is a record of winning titles every year in my opinion. The point FC Inter Milan made was that we shouldn’t let all the experienced defensing players leave at one time, which I totally agree. We have suffered from bad defense since new season. Bad defense means bad match outcomes and instability of the whole project.
The logic of your last paragraph is new to me, though. Now we dont have any legends and with massive departure we are only re-regenerating, I cannot be that so optimistic with such a “new circle”. And I cannot see how come this new circle is financially more sustainable than Morrati’s age.
I think Inter’s main problem started with releasing all of leaders and legends, especially in defense and defensive midfield. J.Zanetti, Cambiasso, Samuel, Maicon, Lucio, Chivu all left Inter almost simultaneously. It would be better to keep at least 2 of those 6. For example, playing Ranocchia alongside Samuel will be far more better and comfortable. Team should not change their starting 4 defenders in a single season. In addition, Cambiasso/J.Zanetti could be a great example for new comer midfielders such as Medel, Brozovic, Hernanes and even Guarin. Now, we have only one player who spent 4 seasons with Inter. He is Ranocchia and that’s why Inter management chose him as a captain. Other players should admit and respect him and support their captain. Winning mentality starts with this. Otherwise, dressing room atmosphere will always be cold and players cannot play as a team. Key to Inter’s revolution is discipline and change in mentality.